Help buying or building a Supertourer

[Kellerman]

Hi all,

I'm looking at a purchase of a late 80's, 90's or early 00's BTCC touring car. With a budget of around £40k, I'm obviously looking at something non-works obviously, maybe something ex-independent?

My first question is, what's happening with prices? Rising? Steady?

My second question is the possibility of building a tribute from a road car. My main goal is a high revving 4cyl, on throttle bodies. Sequential box is a must too, as it a comprehensive cage and high-end suspension. I can probably live without centreloc wheels, air jacks and comprehensive fire supression.

My questions regarding building one are the harder parts of fabrication. I understand they've got "tubbed" inner arches to accomodate wider wheels and also reworked subframes, uprights for better geometry. And things like adjustable anti roll bars.

How feasible is a road car conversion along these lines?

Some general guidance to achieve the result would be appreciated.

I have no interest in racing it, it's purely for track days so I can pretend I'm John Cleland.

[Kellerman]

Thanks for the replies gents

I think a pastiche might be the answer.

Something K20 powered (280bhp / 9000rpm), sequential, trick off-the-shelf suspension and some heavy camber.

Should be 90% of the performance for maybe 30% of the cost.

[Kellerman]

JohnS said:

This K24 powered Primera was advertised for sale earlier this year, but has since started racing again this season with the same owner so hasn't been sold.



Owners contact details are on the original advert if you were interested...

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/125241/b...

That's exactly what I had in mind! Although it doesn't say if it's sequential or not.

Thanks

[Kellerman]

bozla said:

Try looking for a Vectra challenge car. They do sometimes pop up and should be about £10k these days. V6 with sequential I believe.

Close... Quaife straight cut gears, but not a sequential.

[Kellerman]

DanielSan said:

Not a super tourer but a proper ex Clio cup car with the sequential box for 12 grand seems a bargain.

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/125626/x...

That's lovely.

Only a set of throttle bodies away from where I want to be.

[Kellerman]

andy97 said:

You wanted a BTCC car:

https://www.racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/7386...

Ok, it’s a BTC-C spec and not an Super Tourer but it’s within budget and probably cheaper to run than an ST.

Links not working for me

[Kellerman]

andy97 said:

Nothing to do with me but this would be worth a look:

https://www.racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/1290...

Little bit too modern for me I think

[Kellerman]

andy97 said:

Really? The type is 18 years old?

Only two years newer thsn the Clio you liked earlier in the thread!

Imagine a 1998 Ford Focus, and a 1998 Rover 100

Both 1998 cars, but 20 years apart in design age.

Modern VAGs do nothing for me as they don't feel like 90's cars at all

[Kellerman]

andy97 said:

Road car comparisons are completely irrelevant when talking about works built race cars of this quality and type.
You were talking about building your own “touring car” in the original thread - the SEAT SuperCopa will be far far closer to a touring car experience than anything that you can build yourself, and even far closer than many other race cars you can buy but i guess i wont convince you.

Not at all irrelevant. The feeling of speed and visibility is utterly ruined by the thicker A-pillars, thicker doors, distance of the windscreen from the driver etc. Plus it's a heavier shell due to modern construction methods over older vehicles.

Plus, like many PHers I've got zero interest in VAG stuff. Not sure why you can't accept that? Or why it bothers you?

[Kellerman]

JohnS said:

This in car video (3rd and 4th videos) from his instagram feed suggest it's not a sequential, or at least it wasn't back then: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNdmgOKub-/

Absolutely sublime

[Kellerman]

DanielSan said:

Distance from the windscreen? Have you seen where the drivers sit in most Supertourer's, they're nearly in the back seat

It's even worse in a modern shell, because of the depth of dashboard the road car has to have.

I was in a stripped out E92 and it was ridiculous. Much more manageable in an older car.

It's a minor gripe, but one of many that means I've got zero interest in newer stuff.